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Nativity of Jesus

Nativity (Birth of Jesus) Resources

Free online resources based on the Biblical Nativity story. The birth of Jesus story can be found in the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke. See below for links to sermons, songs, stories and entertaining sites for the Nativity of Jesus.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”— Luke 2:8-12 <NLT>

Christmas – Summary

When you think about the Nativity of Jesus, you probably picture the classic Nativity scene with a stable, Mary, Joseph, wise men, shepherds and animals all admiring Jesus in a manger. This is the way most Nativity sets, or crèches have been designed for decades.

Nativity refers to all the events that surround the birth of Jesus. The accounts can be found in both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke. Luke’s account provides more detail on the actual birth, while Matthew fills in the gaps. From Luke we get the background story of the angel visiting Mary, the trip to Bethlehem, the birth, the angels celebrating his birth and the adoration of the shepherds. Matthew records the details of the visit by the wise men that took place a short time later.

The birth of Jesus has been celebrated in artwork for centuries. Nativity plays were an early way of communicating the story for those that could not read the Nativity story in the Bible. Various cultures have added their own unique perspective through Nativity sets which have been created around the world.

The Nativity story is the reason we celebrate Christmas. While it is fun acting in a Nativity play, or a live Nativity scene in front of your church, don’t forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas. As the angels explained to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

The Nativity of Jesus in 2015 is celebrated on Friday, December 25th. The other important events of the Christmas season include:

Advent – (11/29-12/24) Preparation for Christ’s arrival.Christmas Eve – (12/24) The Night Before Christmas.Christmas Day – (12/25) Celebration of the birth of Jesus.The Twelve Days of Christmas – (12/25-1/5) Twelve days starting Christmas night until the day before Epiphany.

Epiphany – (1/6) Also known as Three Kings’ Day celebrates the visit of the Magi.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” — Matthew 2:1-2 <HCSB>

Read the Nativity story in five popular translations – AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:

Heli, The Star Of Bethlehem – A Christmas play based on an adaptation of a Christmas story (see link above in fiction category) about a little star who learns that God doesn’t look for the biggest or the brightest, but those willing to put their complete faith in what He can do in their lives.

The Three Camels – A Christmas play based on an adaptation of a Christmas story (see link above in fiction category) about the three wise men and their camels: Erin, Nina, and Penda. The camels asked God to send them on a great adventure and boy did He ever!